New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-29
THE WAFER COLOR SOCIETY.
TWENTIETH ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

| TWENTIETH ANNUAL EXHIBITION.
The Academy galleries are ut their best when emu.
vened by the bright and cheerful OF the water
color exhibition. The general effect Is always pleasant
even If the first impression receives rude shocks
in the course of round Of the galleries So tar az
decoration is concerned, the water ooors have been
given a fitting back ground but they are not subordi
nated as very nearly happened IN previous occasion
Decoration is q thankless task, but the plants
and evergreens OF the stairway, the curtains and
porteres of the corridor and galleries. with stray
plaques bits OF pottery, and the usual Japanese un.
breas furnish all the accessories which necessary
In the hanging last years plan has been followed savo
that the water coors pitched in high key grouped
at the east end of the large gallery instead OF apOn the
south all and the lowoned pictures at the vest
south wall but the contrasts OF either end are sharply
marked. and the "symphony in white " is especially
br liant in its general effect even though ndi sduI
| pictures are occasionally placed at disadvan age
But the most important feature OF the makeup Of the
exhibition is the avoidance of over-crowdne. Those
who have sighed tor step ladders or grOveed in the
dust at these exhibitions will appreciate the commit.
tees wise restraint Last year the water colors were
treated a better kind of wall covering and all posi-
bic space filed. This year early all the pictures
| can be comfortably seen, and tor this salts
factory result the committee deserves much
credit. There was no lack of material tor
over 1400 water cOlOrs sent in, the
largest number believe submitted. Only
$3.50 accepted nearly 200 less than at last years
discomfort already heard exhibit on rejected pct
il than possible. This should include every.
thing or else there may be war aong tie rejected aud
a third exhibition may be held to make public all avail
able evidences of the popularity OF water color sketch
ing But past experience has shown that unthnk-
ingly liberal policy OF acceptance would have brought
in large amount of "paddine" as we'll as work 40
utterly unjustiiiabe that the exhibition Won have
suffered by presence. Quality rather than quantity
is excellent motto. and we are glad to that 10
has been acted upon so tar as the character OF tho
pictures permitted. Even though there is nothing in
his exhIb ion which rises head and shoulders above
hing else, there is the other hand unusually
little which ia aggressiyely bad
The exhibition is not distinguished by the presence
OF such centres OF interest have been formed by
tain dramatic examples OF Mr. Homer's figure work,
and by two, at least, of Mr. Abbeys pictures. There
is nothing which challenges attention so boldly as Mr.
Chases distemper paintings OF year ago But the
exhibition averages well, and II many weak or
monplaee pictures noted 1t must be remembered
that every exhibition contains OF necessity consider
able proportion work which Is neither one thing nor
the other. Ii not remarkable this collection s
monty even and in the variety OF methods and nAu-
ences which illustrated it is even more interesting
than usual. Mr.. Homer's Florida sketches cannot he
counted as Creatures" but the exhibition has its
features" and among these we nay note first tho
deli ghtful group OF water cOors contributed by Mr..
Blum. Miss Grcatorex's superb still-liie Mr. Charchs
DesolatiOn" and Mr.. Weirs Consolation" Mr.. La
Farres feeling Tor color finds fortunate expression in
his Sleep" and somethn g might be said Tor his Jap
dancer, grotesque carving gitering with light
and color and Tor Mr.. Johnstons " Water Baby" one
OF several efforts in Mr. La farges direction Or Mr..
Bum's work we only mention House Duties"
aud the Garden instances OF suggestive treat
ment vivaciOus handling which Is especially apt IN tho
rendering high lights aud accents, truthful charae-
terzaton and sympathetic cOoriDg These little pct
ures the freedom spirit OF sketch bat they
would lose by being carried further. TheS have life
piquancy and the shades OF F0rtuuy need not H.
tertere with their enjoyment Indeed with the excep-
ton the frankly audaclous Costume Study" some
points in coloins and choice OF subjects mi t be held
TO su ggest the Holland influence. This is directly
pressed in the water c0ors OF Messrs. keyer and
poggenbeek, and in those OF Mr.. H. A.. Walker aud
Others while the modern Dutch school is represented
in person by Ter Meulen. hr Weir lends an example
of the latter and Mr. John Jacob Aston mas furnished
a conspicuous feature by lending large water color
painiinl OF medieval bravo BY Messonier. splendid
Mr. Chnrehs Desolation" which shows bear
mourning beside its slaughtered mate upon a lonely
field OF polar ice. ia forcibe expression oil an lea
which alwayJ appeals TO the imagination, and Mr..
Weir's Como alton shows sympathetic, expressive
portraiture although his manner is that OF painter in
oils aud the acks OF his picture are neeiessy heavy.
Among the other A" centres are Dir. j. ID. Smles
view at Etretat negro genre BY Mr. kappes he
Stndent" carefully wrought but superiuons reminder
FerrJ by Mr.. c. Y. Turner, large study OF model
in which the absence OF genuine interest might be par
doned were it not for the gaTishness OF the colOrng
But after all this Holland pea ant is ~good material
tor reproduction. An ambitious but sadly unsuccessful
struggle with The Scarlet Letter on the part OF MIRA
X. H. NonOs is 10 be recorded anu in picture called
They're Coming Mr. Symington has ventured fur
Their Than is his wont, and so lar certain photo
graphic fidelity has acquitted himself better than
usual. But his bleak i'll erior leaves us cold Mr.
Maynards coarse combination OF fish and hesh, as UNI
decorative the hackneyed theme could well DO
made. Mr.. Hopknson Smiths January Thaw, Mr..
Ross Turner's marines, Mr.. Frederickss unbeautitui
conventionalism, Mr. Woods street boy. Mr.. Browns
bootblsok Artillery Going into Action by Mr.. De
Thulstrup and Sir. Hamiltons Tramp follow in
irregular order in the south gallery The older
tributors like Messrs. Farrer and Colman, well
represented and Mr.. Nicoll sends vie at Newport
and at the Grand Menan The younger Morans furnish
variety OF costume studies and their elders send
marines and Venetian views. The landscapes include
much which Is excellent. like the work OF Mes-rs.
Martin. Tyon, Crane. Clifford Gibson, w. J. White
more Carlson and Murphy There Is other work worth
notice by Miss Emmett and Messrs. Lppincott, Wles,
Edwards. Hassam Mr.. Harvey who is lshoring in tho
Holland vineyard and Miss Herschberg. to say nothing
of the promising pictures which bear the names Of
Morse Sterner Keo 20 and Francis, OF the wealth
OF flowers IN the corr. dor nor OF variety other
work which cannot be -ilered now. The Etching
Club exhibition contains pa etchings, including many
large plates Ii will interest dealers and considerable
proportion OF the public, but amateurs the art will
lind only here and there plates which reassurng.